Jianxi ‘19 (Liu Jianxi, political researcher, conducted several studies on US-Sino Politics, "What's behind China's rising global leadership approval," No Publication, 03-15-2019, https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d774d35597a4d33457a6333566d54/index.html)(Shiv)
International mechanism-building and public goods supply are two determining factorsof global leadership, and China, in recent years, has put tremendous efforts in these fields and is playing a much more pragmatic role than the United States. This explains why China edged ahead of the world's largest economy in the Gallup report. While the United States, under Donald Trump's “America First” doctrine, is withdrawing from a slew of international pacts and organizations, China is shouldering its due responsibilities in international mechanism-building as a significant power. In sharp contrast to Trump's exit from the Paris Agreement on climate change and his advocacy for the coal industry, China is making steadfast commitments to carbon emission reduction. After years of two-digit growth, China is shifting its focus from quantity to quality, investing heavily in ecological protection. This is in the long-term interest of not only China but also the rest of the world. Regarding public goods supply, China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is exporting its experience in infrastructure development to countries along the BRI route. China's competitiveness in 5G technology is also where the United States is lagging behind. Since the outbreak of the Sino-U.S. trade conflict, Washington has been lobbying its allies to ban Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, but it, ironically, cannot provide an alternative to Huawei's technology. Few countries are willing to heed Washington's call to turn down Beijing at their own financial and developmental expenses.
China leadership blossoms as the US cedes its global position on soft power – public goods are crucial.
